Liquid-fuel burner



pr 8, E9 J. M. BROWN LIQUID FUEL BURNER Filed Aprvil 9, 1928l 4Sheets-Sheet l l lll llllllllllh n mum April E930. J. M. BROWN LIQUIDFUEL BURNER Filed April 9, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 vwemboz WITNESS Qwj/fmApril 8, i930. J. M. BRowN j@ LIQUID FUEL BURNER Filed April 9. 1928 4Sheets-Sheet 3 APIii 8 E93om J. M. BROWN l,753,360

LIQUID FUEL BURNER `Filed April 9, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 75 l 7?Snom/16oz fav W Ma @W WITNESS atto/014mg y Patented Apr.. 8, 1930- lUNITED vS'II'QLTES, PATENT OFFICE JOHN MURTON BROWN, OF IRVINGTON, NEWJERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 CRYSTAL OIL BURNER CORPORATION, OF IRYINGTON, NEWJERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY LIQUID-FUEL BURNER Application tiledApril 9,

My present invention relates to liquid fuel burners and moreparticularly to a liquld fuel burner capable of use in domest1c orhousehold heating systems.

For the complete and perfect combustion of liquid fuels, the lidealconditions are to have the fuel in a completely gasiied phase andthoroughly mixed with suilicient airfor its complete combustion or, withsullicient primary air for the required initial combus tion. Under theseconditions the combustion is uniformly and rapidly accomplishedthroughout the air and fuel mixture and there is no opportunity for apart of the fuel to receive an inadequate amount of air or to be carriedthrough the furnace Without being burned. The combustion of liquid fuelin a furnace of small dimensions, such as used for household heating,presents obstacles to the attainment of these ideal conditions,

articularly when the fuel isv a heavy distilate fuel oil. Thus, if theoil be sprayed or atomized directly in the furnace or be otherwiseintroduced into the furnace in li uid condition, the vaporizing of thefuel an 1ts complete and thorough mixing with suficient A air forcombustion must be accomplished in `the narrow connes of the furnaceprior to ignition and combustion and without contact with the relativelycool surfaces of the boiler or heat absorbing elements.

Inasmuch as the vaporization of the oil requires a considerable amountof heat which must be absorbed from the llame, thislvaporizationrequires time and acts to. check the combustion by cooling the portionsof the flame near the fuel particles. Upon being vaporized or gasied,the liquid fuel must be disseminated through or mixed with the air forcombustion before it can be burned. In the event that the fuel passesinto the llame before it is completely vaporized and mixed with the air,it may be incompletely burned, or even cracked to carbon which floats inthe combustion gases in the form of fine particles of soot.

Vaporization of the fuel in a separate apparatus outside 'of thefurnace, and prior to its mixin with the air, for combustion, isdillicult an impractical in domestic fuel 1928. Serial No. 268,429.

burning apparatus because of the danger involved in the vaporization athigh temperatures and the ditliculty of controlling the vaporization soas to obtain a steady and uniform supply of the vaporized or gaseousfuel proportionate to the air supply.

An object of my invention is to provide a method and an apparatuswhereby a liquid fuel is brought to a gaseous phase and thoroughly mixedwith alr for combustion prior to its release within the combustion zoneof a furnace.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for burningfuel in which all danger of carrying an unvaporized liquid fuel into orthrough the combustion zone of a furnace is avoided. Further objects ofthe invention are to provide a liquid fuel burner in which the fuel andair for combust-ion are mixed in proper proportions and are 'brought toahomogeneous mixture upon entering the furnace; to provide a fuel burningapparatus in which the liquid fuel is vaporized and transformed into agaseous phase under conditions requiring a minimum of temperature; toprovide apparatus in which the separation of the fuel from the air withwhich it is mixed is prevented; to provide a safety means whereby, uponthe failure of the ignition or of the igniting means, the vaporized fuelis separated from the air and a further supply of fuel is shut off toprovide a suitable and effective carburetting means for heavydistillates or fuels suitable for combustion in domesticheating furnacesand whereby the supply of fuel and air may be correctly and accuratelyproportioned; to provide an improved fuel supply and pumping means; andto provide an improved pilot light and igniting means for a furnace ofthe above indicated type.

With these and other objects in view which will be more clearly apparentfrom the following description, the invention comprises the fuel burningmethod and apparatus described and set forth in the followingspecification and claims.

The various features of the invention are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which: l

Fig. 1 showsa furnace, partly broken away, and a fuel burning apparatusembodying a preferred form of the invention installed in position in thefurnace.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View through that part of the fuel burnerapparatus in which the fuel is mixed with air prior to its entry intothe furnace.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of a fuel feedingelement of the burner shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on line 4:-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the carburetter apparatus takenon the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of a safety or stopping apparatusl forclosing the fuel and air supply uponfailure of the pilot light orignition devices.

Fig. 7 is a side view of a portion of the automatic apparatus.

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the safety apparatus taken on line 88 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of a burner, the re tort or super-heater elementbeing removed.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional View of the burner and super-heatertaken on line 10- 10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional View of a part of the burner. v

In my present invention a continuous supply of liquid fuel is fed to acarburetting element into which is also drawn a continuous supply ofair. In the carburetting element the liquid fuel is broken up into fineparticles which are disseminated throughout the air stream to form afine mist or suspension. The air and suspended fuelare so proportionedas to provide adequate primary air or oxygen for the commercialcombustion of the fuel. The mist of air and suspended fuel is thenforced by a pump through a direct passage to a retort or super-heatingelement located directly in the fire box of the furnace. Thissuper-heating element is heated by the flames in the furnace and themist' of suspended air is caused to pass through the super-heatingelement in such a manner as to subject the air and the suspended fuel tothe heat of the retort until the liquid fuel is completely gasified andis super-heated to a greater or less degree above that point at which itwould tend to condense. During this gasifying or super-heating theliquid fuel is still more thoroughly mixed with the air for combustion,forming a uniform, homegeneous, gaseous mixture which has been slightlypreheated by the heat of the fire box. The mixture of gasified fuel andair then passes into the distributing chamberof the burner and y thencethrough burner outlets into the lire box of the furnace, whereupon it isimmediately ignited and burns freely, mixing with additional air forcomplete combustion. The

burner is provided with a pilot light so that should the supply of fueland-air be shut off by the usual thermostatic means, and again turnedon, the fuel will he ignited upon passing through the burner outlets,immediately reheating the retort or super-heating chamber and providingfor the subsequent gasification of the fuel. In the event that the pilotlight should be blown out or fail from any cause, the super-heater willbecome cold and will then act as a baffling device for separating thefuel from the air. 'lhe separated fuel then passes to an automatic shutoff device which serves to cut ofi' further supply of fuel and air.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, a supply ofliquid fuel is drawn from any suitable storage reservoir, not shown,through a supply pipe 15, Fig. 3, and a shut-off valve 16, and an inletpipe 17 to a rotary pump 18. The pumping chamber 19 of the pump 18 isformed by providing a cylindrical recess in one end of a casing 20, theend of which recess is closed by a cover plate 21. Within thecylindrical recess 19 a cylindrical rotor 2 is eccentrically mounted ona rotating shaft 23 supported at one end in a bearing 24 in the cover ofthe plate 21 and extending through a bearing 25 in the casing 20, andthrough a packing gland 26. The shaft 23 is driven by means of a motor27 which also serves to supply air for the combustion of the fuel. Theeccentric mounting of the rotor 22 on the shaft 23 brings one portion ofthe cylindrical surface of the rotor in close contact with the innercylindrical surface of the recess 19 and provides a narrow, curvingspace between the opposite faces of the rotor and recess. As the rotorrotates in the cylindrical recess this space also rotates. Between theinlet pipe 17 and outlet pipe 28 of the rotary pump there is positioneda radial sliding partition 29 which is biased or pressed against therotating surface of the rot-or by means of a spring 30, the pressure ofwhich isregulated by means of a screw 31.

As the rotor rotates in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 3, thespace beyond the sliding partition in communication with the inlet 17increases and draws oil through the pipe 17 to fill this space. As thecontacting part of the rotor passes the partition29, it forces theliquid outwardlythrough the out-- let pipe 28. The rapid rotation of therotor thus provides a smooth and continuous supply of oil under pressureto the pipe 28. From the pipe 28 a portion of the oil passes upwardly toa vertical pipe 32 and through a regulating valve 34 and return pipe 35back to the supply reservoir. The remainder of the liquid fuel passesthroughA a branch pipe 36 through an automatic solenoid valve 37 andpipe 38 to a float chamber 39 of the carburetter apparatus which isshown in detail zontal per orate aveaeec inl-Figs. 2 andf5. A constantlevel ofthe-- liquid is maintained in the yfloat chamber .39 by meansofa oat valve 40 which controls the inlet to the chamber inaccordancewith the level" of' the oil 'and causes'a proportionate quantity toreturn through the valve 34 to the" supply tank. From the oat chamber 39the oil passes through a passageway 41 and past an ad'ustin needle valve42 to a horiatomizin pipe 43 which rojects into a mixing cham er 44 ofthe carburetter. The atomizing pipe 43 is provided with spacedperforations 45 in its upper surface through which the liquid fuel maypass into contact with a current of air flowing through the mixingchamber 44 and may thereb be torn loose from the openings and carrie insuspension by t-he passing air. A blast of air is drawn into the mixingchamber 44 throu l1 openings 46 in the lower part of an outer ailleshell 47, openings 48 in the upper part of an inner baie shell 49 andopenings 50 in a part of the mixing chamber 44 which extends into theinner shell 49. The passage of the air from the inlet openings 50through the mixing chamber is controlled by an adjustable baille plate51 supported on a horizontal pivot 52 at the upper part of the chamber,Ithe angle or position of the baffle 51 being controlled by an adjustingscrew 53 which bears against an arm 54 rigidly mounted on the outer endof a supporting shaft 52. It will be understood that the quantity of airmay be increased by tilting the baille plate 51 upwardly, or decreasedby tilting the baffle plate 51 downwardly towards vertical position toincrease the resistance to the flow of air. After passing the baie plate51, the air is deflected upwardly towards the horizontal atomizing pipe43 by means of an inclined baiiie plate 55 which extends from the lowerwall of the chamber 44 towards the lower edge of the atomizing pipe 43.The air is then deflected over the 0penings 45 in the pipe 43 and, byits rapid passage, continuously tears away the upper part of the oil andcarries it in finely divided form through the chamber 44.

With a given adjustment of the oat chamber 40 and the needle valve 42 toprovide a definite supply of liquid fuel through the openings 45, therelative proportions of liquid fuel and air are constantly maintainedregardless of the velocity or volume of fuel and air. Should any of thesuspended fuel settle out of the carrying air, particularly upon atemporary shutting down of the burner, it will be received in a sump orcollecting recess 56 formed in the lower part of the chamber 44.

The` quantity of liquid fuel accumulated in the sump 56 is limited bymeans of an overflow pipe 57 which projects a short distance above thebottom of the sum 56 and permits an excess of oil to overflow into acollecting pan- 58, from'which it returns, by means-cfa u pipe 59,.tothe supply tank or'A other re receptacle.

vUpon again starting up the burner, a por tion of theair that passesbeneath the damper 51 is by-passed through an opening 60 in the baleplate 55, down. into contactv with the surface ofthe liquid fuelcollected in the sump '56, and thus this liquid is carried by thisby-pass current of air into the main draft of air passing through thechamber 44.

The velocity of the air through the chamber 44 is controlled by means ofa damper 61 mounted on a rock shaft 62 projecting through a wall of thechamber 44, and having a weighted crank arm 63 that may be con- Xtrolledby a thermostatic element, or otherwise. The upward swing of the damper61 is limited by means of a set screw 64 projecting downwardly from the.upper wall of the chamber 44, and the downward swing of the damper 61is limited by means of a set screw 65 on the outer wall of the chamber44 in the path of an extension of the arm 63.

The draft of air is drawninto and through the chamber 44 by means of afan or blower 66 in a fan casing or chamber 67 having an axial inletdirectly connected to the outlet of the chamber 44. The fan 66 ismounted on a shaft 68 which is connected directly to, and rotated by,the shaft of the motor 27. By the rotation of the fan 66 the air isdrawn centrally into the casing 67 and is thrown radially outward by thecentrifugal action of the fan. The mixture of air and fuel Iis thus putunder pressure by the action of the fan and passes through a pipe 69 toa retort or super-heater 7 O mounted within a furnace 7l.

It is necessary to the safety of the apparatus and to convenience inoperation that the mixing chamber 40 and its associated elements beplaced at a short distance from the furnace 7l. The outlet of the fancasing 67 is brought to such a position that it is in a direct line withthe inlet to theretort 70. The connecting pipe 69 is, therefore, astraight,

direct connection from the fan 67 to the retort, thus avoiding anychanges in direction of flow which would tend to throw the suspendedparticles out of suspension in their passage from the fan to the retort.Should any considerable number of particles collect on the walls of thepipe 69 by a chance impingement, they would be graduallyblown.

tort or super-heater the liquid fuel is trans formedv completely to thegaseous phase and mixes uniformly and homogeneously as a gas with theair. For this purpose it is not necessary to crack the molecules to apermanent gas that will not subsequently condense, but it is onlynecessary to heat and maintain the fuel at a temperature above that atwhich it will vaporize or gasify into the carrying air, whichtemperature is below the normal boiling temperature of the liquid fuel.Thus, the air serves not only its normal purpose for the latercombustion of the fuel, but also to facilitate and promote the readygasification of the fuel.

A slight cracking of the liquid fuel may occur and is not objectionableso long as it docs not deposit an appreciable amount of carbon in thesuper-heater or does not involve the preheating ofthe air and gasmixture to a dangerous temperature.

As the air is delivered to the retort 70 from the pipe 69 it is receivedin van inlet chamber 7 3 formed between the vertical, cylindrical wallsof the retort 70 and a vertical out-let pipe 74 that projects upwardlyinto the retort to a level above that of the pipe G9. The air receivedin the chamber 73 is prevented from by-passing directly upwardly intothe pipe 74 and is constrained to pass downwardly and about the pipe bymeans of a horizontal partition 75 immediately above the mouth of thepipe 69 and extending from the wall of the retort 70 to the yupper edgeof the outlet pipe 74 throughout a considerable arc of the adjacent edgeof the outlet pipe. The outer edges of the partition 75 are extendeddownwardly to provide a vertical partition 76 which may extenddownwardly to any desired distance. depending upon the particularproportioning of the passages in the retort. As the mixture of air andsuspended fuel particles pass under the lower edge of the verticalpartition 76, they pass to the opposite side of the retort, thenceupwardly and over the edge of the outlet pipe 74 and then downwardly tothe burner 7 2. The outlet pipe 74 of the retort 70 delivers thegaseous' air and fuel mixture from the retort through a central openin g77 to a burner chamber 78 of the burner 72. From the burner 78 thegaseous mixture of air and fuel is distributed to a number of burneroutlets or ports 79 arranged in four concentric circles about the pipe77.

Upon passing from the burner ports or outlets 79 the mixture of air andgasified fuel is ignited and burned in the space surrounding r theretort 70, thereby serving to heat the retort 70 and the air and fuelpassing therethrough. The most intense heat will, of course be impartedto the lower part of the retort 10 which is most directly exposed to thef, heat of the flames. In the event that any of the liquid fuelparticles entering the retort 70 should be separated out of the carryingair by the bailiing effect of the inner outlet pipe 74 and thepartitions 75 and 76, and the consequent changes in direction occasionedtherein the recess 80 is immediately vaporized because of its exposureto the highest temperature in the retort and thus supplies an initialquantity of gasitied fuel after the ignition of the liquid fuel aboutthe retort.

The burner 72 is provided with a vertical iange 81 encircling the burneroutlets or ports ,79 and serving to shield the burner ports from adirect inrush of air. This shield is particularly useful and desirableupon the starting up of the burner or upon the intermittent stopping andstart-ing of the burner in accordance with a control device. For thisstarting and stopping of the burner, a pair of pilot burners 82 and 83are supplied with gas from a pipe 84 and branch pipes 85 and 86, theends of which are arranged in suitable notches in the flange 81 todeliver gas flame to the space immediately within the flange 81. It willbe understood that the pilot burners 82 and83 are always supplied withgas in the usual manner.

The action of the retort burner and pilot lights upon starting from acold condition is as follows: As the air, with its suspended liquid fuelparticles, enters the retort 70 from the pipe 69, a considerable, if nota large portion of the liquid particles, upon striking the outlet pipe74 and baffles 75 and 76, are caught and separated from the passingcurrent of.

air. These particles then collect in the trough 80 until they reach thelevel of a small diameter overflow tube 87 which projects into thetrough to a level slightly above the bottom of the recess 80. Theseparated liquid fuel overiiows downwardly through the tube 87 to arecess formed in the burner Within the vertical encircling ange 81. Theliquid fuel dropping from the tube 87 is received on a c1rcular asbestoswick 88 extending about the burner within the lower part of the flange81 and in the directpath of the flame of the pilot lights 82 and 83. Theliquid fuel thus received on the wick is locally vaporized and 1gn1tedby the pilot flame, thus additionally heating the tube 87 and the retort70. The portion of the liquid fuel particles not separated out withinthe retort 70 are carried by the current of air into the burner chamber78 and outwardly through the opening 79, and also into contact with thepilot lights, and mixing with the fuel vaporized from the wick 88,increase the llame about the retort 7 0. The retort 70 is thus rapidlyheated, providing a progressively better gasiied fuel and soon reachin apoint at which a completely gasiied fuel 1s delivered to the ports r9and a blue fiame formed about the retort 70.

Therecess 89 in which the wick 88 is positioned lwithin the verticalflange 81, as shown in detail in Fig. 11, is progressively deepened fromone end to an end delivering to an outlet or overflow pipe 90., Thepurpose of this gradual deepening of the fuel recess is to causetheliquid fuel to fiow uniformly throughout the wick and prevent it fromcollecting in spots.

To facilitate the distribution of the vapors that are evolved from thewick 88v so as to obtain a complete and uniform ignition, the

' bores of the outer ring of burner ports or outlets 79 are inclinedslightly outwardly and circumferentially so as to give a circulatorymovement to the issuing Jets about and over the wick 88. The bores ofthe ports of the outer ring are also made smaller than those of theinner ring to avoid creating too strong a draft at the pilot lights andto thus minimize the danger of blowing out and ex- A tinguishing thepilot lights. This tends to cause the fuel vapors to move in a circularfashion past the pilot burners 82 and 83 and over the wick so as tocarry the flame around the burner.

The bores of the inner burner ports incline upwardly and outwardly so asto cause the fuel and air jets to intersect those of the outer ring ofports and to strike an outer, annular dished plate 91, the lower inneredge of which rests on the upper edge of the lvertical flange 81 andwhich is held in place by a downwardly projecting flange 92,v which fitsaround the outer, upper surface of the vertical flange 81. The annularplate 91, which may be made in two parts so that it may be easily placedon the vertical flange 81, becomes heated to incandescence and thuspromotes a uniform combustion of the fuel and provides a surface for theradiation of heat. The plate 91 also prevents the inrush of cold airabout and over the burner ports and thus prevents the flame from beingextinguished at the starting of the apparatus, and also serves to throwthe ame from the burner l outwardly and to distribute it throughout thefire box of the furnace.

In the event that the pilot lights lbecome extinguished and that uponthe stopping and re-starting of the burner the fan 66 and pump 18 shouldcontinue to supply air and fuel through the pipe 69 to the retort 70,the par-l ticles of suspended fuel will be separated very largely in theretort 70 by the baille plates and 76 and the overflow pipe 74. The fuelthus separated from the air collects in the recess until it reaches thelevel of the upper end of the pipe 87, whereupon it overflows throughthe pipe V87 into the recess 89. Residual fuel that may be carrieddownwardly into the outlet pipe 74. and thence into the burner chamber78 will be largely separated therein and in passing through the smallburner port 79. The fuel thus separated in the retort 7 0 and in theburner 72 continues to accumulate in the trough 89 until it reaches thelevel of the overflow pipe 90. To prevent any of this collected fuelfrom flowing back into the chamber 78 through the burner ports 79, theouter ends of each of the burner ports 79 open through raised nubs ormounds 93. From the overflow pipe 90 the oil flows through a connectingpipe 94 to a horizontal pipe 95, one end of which is closed and isrigidly supported on a. vertical standard 96, which also serves tosupport a casing 97 for the motor 27. The pipe is provided with a smalloutlet 98 through which the oil escapes. A collecting box 99 ispivotally mounted on the pipe 95 to collect the fuel that drops throughthe outlet orifice 98. The

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weight of the box 99 and its contents is bal- 99 to tilt on thepipe 95may be adjusted by making the weight 100 slidable on the supporting rod101 and fixing it in position thereon by means of a set screw 102.

It will be understood that whenever the pilot lights l82 and 83 becomeextinguished and fuel and air are supplied through the pipe 69, the fuelseparated in the retort 70 will pass through the pipe 87, the overflowpipe 90 and the above connections to the collecting box 99, and that thefuel thus collecting in the box 99 will, in a short time, be sufficientto cause the box to tilt on the pipe 95. The downward tilting movementof the box 99 is transmitted through a rod 103 to an arm 104 of a switch105 which controls the supply of electric current to the motor 27. Thisswitch may be of any suitable type, a quick acting spring switch beingshown by way of example. A wire 106 from the supply of current leadsdirectly to the motor 27 and a return wire 107 leads from the motor to abinding screw 108 of the switch 105. A'return wire 109 is connected to abinding screw at the other end of the switch 105. From the wire 106, abranch wire 110 leads to the solenoid valve 37 and a return wire 111leads from the solenoid valve to the binding screw 108 of the switch105. It will be apparent that when the rod 103 is lowered, the switch isopened, thereby breaking the circuit both to the motor and to thesolenoid valve, positively cutting off the supply of fuel and stoppingthe fan 66 and the pum 18.

It will be apparent that t e elements of the burner may be assembled invarious arrangements. In the Bpreferred form, as shown particularly inigs. 1 and 2, the air and fuel supplying elements, and the variouscontrols therefor, are mounted and supported on the vertical standard 96which directly supports the motor casing 97. At 011e end of the motorcasing 97 there is mounted, by means of screws112, a projecting arm 113in alignment with, and enclosing, the motor shaft 23. The casing of thepump 18 is cast integrally with the outer end of the arm 113, the pumpand the motor being thus united in one unitary assembly. At the oppositeend of the motor casing 97 is integrally cast one' vertical face of theperipheral wall of the fan easing 67. A housing 114 for the switch 105is also cast on the motor casing 97. The outer vertical plate 115 of thefan casing 67 is bolted or screwed directly to the casing of the chamber44 which is, in turn, bolted to the plate 115.

The arm 113 isso positioned that any oil leakinof from the gland orstuffing box 26, or from tzlie bearing 116, is collected therein andflows through a drain pipe 117 into the sump 56 of the mixing chamber44. Similarly, the oil overflowing from the other bearing 118 of themotor 27 passes through ,channels 119 in the bearing blo`ck 120 to adrain pipe 121, and thence to a conduit 122 and outlet pipe 123 whichleads to the pan 58. In this way all leakage of oil from the apparatusis avoided.

The burner apparatus may be mounted in any of the usual types offurnaces by supporting the burner 72 on brick work 124 placed on thefurnace grates, which are covered with a layer of asbestos or firebrick.

The height of the burner 72 is so selected that the pipe 69 may enterthrough an opening cut in the ordinary fuel door 125. To enable the fueland air supply elements to be brought to a height corresponding to thatof the retort 70 and burner 72, the standard 96 is made verticallyadjustable in a supporting base 126 an?. held in posit-ion by means ofset screws 12 In the operation of 'the above described burner, acombustible mixture of fuel and air is formed in the chamber 44 andconveyed through the pump casing 67 and pipe 69 to the retort 70. Themixture is not readily combustible in the condition in which. vit passesthrough the pipe 69, inasmuch as the oil is in liquid form and thus hasa quenching action on combust-ion. As the pipe 69 enters the furnace,the portion immediately above the burner 72 passes through an intenselyheated flame which'might vapo'rize and serve to ignite the fuel and airmixture. To avoid too great concentration of heat at this point, thelower part of the pipe 69 may be shielded by means o f asemi-cylindrical iron projecting shield 128. Although the retort 70 issubjected to the flame, the fuel is in rapid and turbulent circulationthrough the retort which causes the heat to be rapidly absorbed anddisseminated throughout the air and fuel mixture, and to be absorbed by.condition favorable to immediate combustion upon their escape from theburner ports. Sufficient pressure is created in the pi e 69 to theretort 70 and burner chamber 8 by the fan 66, to ensure a velocitythrough the burner port 78 sufficient-ly high to prevent a back firingof the flame into the chamber 78 and retort 70.

As changes of construction could be made within the scope of myinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. Combustion apparatus of the type described which comprises a burnerhaving upwardly and outwardly directed burner ports arranged about acentral axis and a retort mounted centrally above said burner, saidretort having a. central outlet pipe projecting from said burnerupwardly into said retort, an inlet in a vertical wall of said retort,and a partition extending from said vertical wall above said inlet tosaid outlet pipe.

2. Combustion apparatus of the type described which comprises a burnerchamber having a central inlet and having outlet ports arranged aboutsaid inlet, a retort above and connected to said inlet, an upwardlyprojecting annular flange at the outer edge of said burner chamber, achannel extending between said flange and said burner chamber, and anoverflow outlet from said channel, said channel being of increasingdepth to said overfiow outlet, gas pilot jets projecting inwardly oversaid channel, the outer of said burner ports being of smaller bore thanthe inner ports and directed outwardly and circularly about saidburner-chamber.

3. Combustion apparatus" of the type described which comprises a burnerchamber having a central inlet and burner ports arranged' about saidinlet, a retort above and connected to said inlet, said retort having apocket at its lower portion, an upwardly projecting annular flange atthe outer edge of said burner chamber, a channel positioned at the outeredge of said burner chamber within said flange and having an overowoutlet, said channel being of increasing depth to said overflow outlet,gas pilot jets projecting inwardly and above said channel, a wick insaid channel, and a pilot pipe extending from scribed which comprises .aburner c said retort'above said pocket to a short distance abovesaidwick.

4. Combustion apparatus of the tylpe deamber having a central inlet inits upper face, upwardly and outwardly projecting burner ports arrangedabout said inlet, a retort positioned centrally above said chamber anddelivering to said inlet, an upwardly projecting annular fiange at theouter edge o said burner chamber, and an annular dished plate restino*on the upper edge of said flange and exten ing upwardly and outwardlytherefrom.

5. Apparatus of the type described which comprises a burner, asuper-heating retort for said burner, a carburetter, a fan for draw-ling air through said carburetter and supplying carburetted air to saidretort, a pump for supplying liquid fuehto said carburetter, an'electricmotor for driving said fan and pump, batlie lneans in said retort toremove unvaporized liquid from the air current passing therethrough, andmeans actuated by the accumulation of unvaporized oil from said p retortto stop said motor.

6. Apparatus of the type described which comprises a burner, asuper-heating retort for said burner,a carburetter, a fan for drawingair through said carburetter and supplying carburetted air to saidretort, a pump for supplying liquid fuel to said carburetter,

an electrlc motor for driving said fan and said pump, a fuel controlvalve, baille means in said retort to remove unvaporized liquid from theair current passing therethrough, and means actuated by the accumulationof unvaporized oil from said retort to stop said motor.

7. Apparatus of the type described which comprises a burner, asuper-heating retort for said burner, a carburetter, a fan for drawingair through said carburetter and supplying carburetted air to saidretort, a pump for supplying liquid fuel to said carbure'tter, anelectric motor for driving said fan and pumpbaiiie means in said retortlo remove the unvaporized liquid from the air current passingtherethrough, a tiltable collecting pan receiving separated oil fromsaid retort, and an electric switch for said motor-actuated by saidtiltable pan upon the accumulation of a predetermined amount of liquidtherein.

8. Apparatus of the type described which comprises a burner, asuper-heating retort for said burner., a carburetter, a fan for drawingair through said carburetter and supplying carburetted air to saidretort, an electric air when cold, and a recess for collecting said asuper-heating retort separated fuel particles, and means for re-'ceiving separated liquid fuel from said Vrecess and acting upon theacculnulation of a predetermined quantity of said liquid fuel to stopthe supply of said air and suspended fuel particles. ,y v

10. Liquid -fuel burning lapparatus which comprises a burner, asuper-heating retort connected to said burner, an air and liquid fuelmixing chamber, a fan for drawing air through said mixing chamber anddriving said air without substantial change in direction to said retort,a horizontal perforated fuel supply pipe in said mixing chamber, adelecting plate for delccting air towards said horizontal pipe, aregulating damper, means to adjust said damper to set positions to varythe resistance to the flow of said air tol said horizontal pipe, and acontrol damper movable within set limits to control the flow of airthrough said mixing chamber.

11. Liquid fuel burning apparatus which comprises a burner, asuper-heating retort connected to said burner, an airand liquid fuelmixing chamber, a fan for drawing air through said mixing chamber andsupplying said air in a direct path to Said retort, a horizontalperforated fuel supply pipe in said mixing chamber, a delecting platefor delecting air towards said horizontal pipe, a collecting sump in thelower part of said chamber, an opening in the lower part of saiddeflecting plate for admitting air to said sump, and a damper to controlthe flow of air through said mixing chamber.

12. Liquid fuel burning apparatus which comprises a burner, asuper-heating retort for said burner, an air and fuel mixing chamber, afan for drawing air through said mixing chamber and supplying said airto said retort, a motor for driving said' fan, a horizontal perforatedfuel supply pipe in said mixing chamber, a collecting sump in the lowerpart of said mixing chamber, motor control means actuated by theaccumulation of liquid to stop said fan, and an overiow pipe from saidcollecting sump to said motor control means.

13. Liquid fuel burning apparatus which comprises a burner, asuper-heating retort for said burner, an air and liquid fuel mixinchamber, a fan for drawing air through sai mixing chamber and supplyingit to said retort, a pump for supplying fuel to said mixing chamber, amotor for driving said pum and said fan, a by-pass for the oildelivereil from said pump, and a regulating valve to control the amountof oil delivered to said mixin chamber.v

14. iquid fuel burning apparatus which .pump

comprises a burner, a su er-heating retort mounted on and connected) tosaid burner, a mixing chamber for liquid fuel and air, a

for supplying fuel to said mixn chamber, a fan for drawing air throughsai `mixing chamber and forcing said air to said retort, a motor fordriving said pump and said fan, means forsupportng said mixing chamber,motor, pump and fan in a unitary structure, means for adjusting thevertical height of said sup orting mea-ns, and av straight pipeconnectlon from said fan to said l retort.

15. Apparatus of the type described which comprises a burner, asuper-heating retort mounted thereon, a horizontal inlet pipe forsaidretort, a supporting standard, a motor mounted on said standard atan adjustable hei ht, a blower supported and driven by sai motor anddelivering to said inlet pipe, an air and fuel mixing chamber connectedto the inlet of said blower, a rotary pump supported and driven by saidmotor, by-pass means for delivering a part of the liquid from said pumpto said mixing chamber, a cut-olf means supported by said standard forstopping said motor and closing said by-pass fuel feeding means upon theaccumulation in said cut-off means of a predetermined quantity ofliquid, bale means in said retort providing a collecting pocket therein,and overflow means from said pocket leading to said cut-oftl means.

' 16. Apparatus of the type described which comprises a burner chamberhaving an upper plate provided with an inlet opening and a number ofsurrounding burner ports, a vertical annular flange surrounding saidburner plate, a circular channel between said annular flange and saidburner plate gradually increasing in depth from a point about saidburner plate to an adjacent point, an asbestos wick in said channel, anoverflow opening at the dee est end of said channel, a retort mounted)on the upper plate of said burner and having a vertical delivery pipeprojecting upwardly in said retort, and an overow duct extending from alevel slightly above the bottom of said annular channel to a posi- 59tion above said asbestos wick.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

JOHN MURTON BROWN.

